Friday, December 16, 2005

Your chances of becoming a writer

Whenever I teach a writing class I always start by saying "there are (let's say) thirty in the class. Two of you will make it." If you hear that and go "Jesus, those are terrible odds. How am I gonna compete with that?" you're dead. However, if you say "Hmmm? Me and who else?" then read on. You've got a chance. And here's the good news: Those odds just went from 15-1 to 3-1.

You have to believe in yourself first if you ever expect anyone else to.

More good news: If you are good you will be recognized. It may take some time but it will happen. Remember, readers WANT to like your script. They're BEGGING to like your script. But the key is to stick with it. Don't rely on one spec. Often times I'll meet young writers who will say "I wrote a great FRIENDS four years ago and can't get an agent." L-O-S-E-R-S. It might take five specs, it might take ten. But all you need is one person somewhere who sparks to your material. And once you're in you're in.

In future posts I'll be giving tips on what I look for in a spec. In the meantime, start writing. You're already beating the odds.

In my first screenwriting class, there were 13 people. 2 of us are still writing seriously six years later. Well, 3 of us if you count the instructor, a guy who was a bitter Hwood escapee who had one movie produced and a CAA agent, then fell into a string of (black) comically bad luck. His bottom was teaching us, in Vegas. It was a really good test for me, to keep writing with this teacher mocking my work the whole time. I ran into him a few years later and he was a different person - had fallen in love, had accepted that he was teaching, had a new agent, etc. We met a few times for coffee.

I read somewhere that it takes the average working screenwriter 10 specs and 10 years to break in.

It's absolutely true. We are begging to like something. When you take the time to slog through hundreds of spec scripts the exercise is only worth it if you find one or two scripts you like. I'm sorry but my time is too valuable to reading bad material so I can feel superior. No one goes to the effort to pan for gold unless he hopes to find gold.

Admittedly, writers and others with actual talent want to read stuff that is good. However from my experience, agents and producers, well, who am I kidding, mostly agents, absolutely do not want to read good stuff. They want to read stuff that other people like already. Unfortunately, it usually goes through these douchebags before it gets to the talented people of the world. And I don't say this as a bitter writer who never made it, I made it and I'm bitter about it. Okay, that's all, back to the jokes. I'll start with a funny word - weiner.

My name is Alice and I am currently writing a book for teenagers. I love writing and have written hundreds of little stories. I have written up most of the story but I don't know what the next step is, do I send it to someone once it's finished? I am very confused!

About KEN LEVINE

Named one of the BEST 25 BLOGS by TIME Magazine. Ken Levine is an Emmy winning writer/director/producer/major league baseball announcer. In a career that has spanned over 30 years Ken has worked on MASH, CHEERS, FRASIER, THE SIMPSONS, WINGS, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, BECKER, DHARMA & GREG, and has co-created three series. He and his partner wrote the feature VOLUNTEERS. Ken has also been the radio/TV play-by-play voice of the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres. and Dodger Talk. He hosts the podcast HOLLYWOOD & LEVINE

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